Dianne Vest has been staying with friends since the December 1 blaze but she was "left with nothing but the clothes on her back" after everything in the house was contaminated with asbestos.

Dianne's daughter, Juanita Vanderburg - who described her mother as someone always putting her hand up to help others - has since started a GoFundMe fundraiser.

Shoalhaven RFS responded to calls from neighbours alerting them to the blaze, but firefighters were unable to save the home. The RFS confirmed there was asbestos in the walls which had contaminated all of the items inside.

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Ms Vanderburg said while Dianne was lucky to have found accommodation with friends "she literally is starting from scratch".

"It's so hard to get your head around it because you don't even realise how much stuff it is, like phone chargers, clothes, food - everything," she said.

"And I know so many people will be happy to help and donate kitchenware and clothing ... but she can't take anything because she's got nowhere to put it.

"That's why I started the GoFundMe."

Ms Vanderburg and her mother have been overwhelmed by the generosity of community members who have so far donated more than $3000.

"My mum is so overwhelmed that so many people that we don't know have donated. It's just so kind of them," she said.

"A lot of the school teachers and even students, parents have been trying to come together to help her."

To donate to the fundraiser, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-for-di?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer

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